At Malone Catholic Parishes
Preparations for the new translation of the Mass have been underway in Malone Catholic Parishes for most of the past year.  A six-part series on the history of the Mass was held last winter, and  a 6-week "Biblical Walk Through the Mass" this fall. A Q and A series in the bulletin during the summer was followed by seven weeks of  full-page bulletin inserts.

September saw the introduction of new English chant at Mass, as well as the distribution of Dr. Edward Sri's guide to the new translation.  Homilies made frequent reference to the coming changes, and the new pew cards and missalettes have been in place and used for pre-Mass rehearsals for several weeks.

Last week, eight-year-old Maggie Marceau picked up one of these pew cards after Mass.  She scanned it attentively, then confided: "I can't wait until we start using this.  We've been learning all about it.  Now I am excited to start using the new prayers." 

This week she got her wish, and her pastor, Father Joe Giroux, certainly shares Maggie's excitement. "The transition here was very smooth," he explains. "There were a few hiccups - but that's okay, because it makes us sit up and take notice.  We've had all this preparation and now we're trying to make it normal.   “To borrow an image,” he said, “it is as if the Church has filled our mouths with marbles today; in weeks to come, we will be removing them one at a time to discover the true beauty of the words we speak. “The best comment I heard today came from Phyllis Smith, who coincidentally is our parish secretary,” Father Giroux said. “As she left church, she remarked that, with the new responses and the chanting, she participated more attentively and felt more a part of what was going on."

Parishioner Claire Russell agrees.  "I think it went very well.  There is a lot more meaning because we are going back to the original prayers.  The new responses bring us closer to the beauty of those prayers, and closer to the mystery we are celebrating."  Claire was well-prepared for the changes; she attended the 6-week "Biblical Walk Through The Mass" program   in the fall. "The sessions were wonderful," she relates.  The way they were presented was so good.  there was no way you could not understand what was coming."

Jack LaCroix likewise expresses appreciation for the level of preparation made available in Malone Catholic Parishes.  "We were learning about the changes for almost a year," he says.  "The preparation was terrific, and Father Giroux did everything possible to educate us."  Still, he acknowledges, "Nobody likes a change.  It's a challenge, and we all have to take some time and adapt to it.  As with any change, it will take time to accept." 
Noting that he is now an adult acolyte, Mr. LaCroix notes that the new language takes him back to his days as an altar boy. "It is as if we have come full circle," he concludes.  "Then or now, the sacrament is still our greatest blessing."

In Clinton Deanery
There were some chuckles during Mass at St. Joseph's Church in Coopersville when habit took over a few times, said parishioner and Eucharistic minister Brenda Jolicoeur. It will be tough for some to accustom themselves to the changes, she said, and maybe more so for St. Joseph's, "because the whole congregation is aging. "But we will get used to it," she said.

Jolicoeur converted from Protestant to Catholicism just as Vatican II altered the Mass dramatically in the 1960s, and that proved perfect timing for her. "It was the brand-new turn-around, speaking English," she said, "and I loved it," she said. "It wasn't the scary Latin (Mass)." Now, the new translation suits her just fine, too. "I don't mind at all learning new ways to celebrate the Mass."

At St. Patrick's Church in Rouses Point, pastored as well by Father Clyde Lewis, parishioner Sue Merchant struggled a bit. "I think it's difficult," she said. "We've been so used to the way it was." Now, she said, "we have to be so aware of what we have to say, which is a good thing, I think." No longer responding by rote, she said, communicants "need to stop and think before they speak." And so there is fuller participation. "We're very blessed to have Father Lewis to guide us through it," Mrs. Merchant said. "He's very patient." It will take time, she said, and some effort on the part of adults. For the children, it's going to be easy."

At St. Peter’s Parish in Plattsburgh, Ruth Ryan said that she likes the new liturgy. "There wasn't that much difference,” she said. “I go to Mass daily, so I have to pay attention the first few times. Sometimes you get used to saying words without thinking about their meaning, so having to take time to think through the new liturgy is a good thing, because it makes people think.

Scott Stevens, also of St. Peter’s, said, “I didn't realize we say, 'The Lord be with you" in church so many times before today. The cue cards were helpful. His wife Laura said, "I found the change in the words quite beautiful and I found myself paying more attention because of the change."

Frank Perkin said "It's going to take a while for people to get used to things." "It's (the adjustment) harder in the music part of it," he said. His wife Donna agreed. "The music connected with the change was tougher,” she said. “It was stumbling. The congregation seemed to have difficulty getting into the rhythm of it

"There are some parts that I don't like … the music,” said St. Peter’s Parishioner Don Romeo. “It just doesn't seem to blend well the way we're singing this stuff." "How do they really know what they said 2,000 years ago?" he wondered, “when trying to come up with a correct interpretation of things".

From the Mountains
Phil Capone, a parishioner at St. Bernard's Church in Saranac Lake, said that he is excited about the new missal.

Along with 60 other parishioners from St. Bernard's, St. Paul’s in Bloomingdale; St. John's in Lake Clear and Assumption Capone took part in a program led by Father Mark Reilly, pastor. “It was a good course....made me study.“ he said. “The class definitely helped. “I just don't like that long word 'consubstantial'” he chuckled
Michele Tucker also took part in the Mass Study. She "came to see what the changes are" and as a musician has been "learning and practicing the new music"

In Lewis Deanery
For the churches of St. Peter’s (Lowville), St. Hedwig’s (Houseville), and St. Mary’s (Glenfield) the new translation/transition  of the Mass proceeded surprising well with humor and respectful dignity. 

Father Christopher Carrara, pastor, gave cues to where the responses were located on the sheets provided to the parishioners.  He stated he will continue to provide cues over the course of the next month or two until the congregation gets used to the new phraseology. 

Father Carrara actually started preparing his congregations for the transition last Christmas Eve when in a joking manner he mentioned in his homily that changes would be coming and that Christmas and Easter Catholics would be a bit lost if they returned next Christmas Eve. 

Three months ago an insert was placed into the church bulletins regarding the transition obtained from the U.S. Catholic Bishops Website.  During homilies he broke down parts of the Mass further, and about four weeks ago started singing the responses.

A misconception among many parishioners was that the church was returning to pre-Vatican II, the Latin Mass.  Father Carrara explained to them that the changes are related to Vatican II and the proper translation from Latin to English.

One of the hardest phrases for parishioners to get used to is consubstantial in the Nicene Creed.  Father Carrara explained to his parishes that “this word is not a warm and fuzzy word, a word that you can snuggle up to, but it is a very deep theological belief that our Lord is made of the same stuff of his Father; a beautiful and reaching thought.”

Father Carrara believes  this change has personally helped him experience  a new intensity and appreciation for the quiet part of the Mass where the priest prays in the quiet voice at consecration.

In Jefferson Deanery
The Catholic Parishes of St. Mary’s in Evans Mills, St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia and St. Teresa in Theresa, held an educational meeting to preview the new changes for parishioners on Nov. 15. One of the organizers was Paul Hornak. Although the parish meeting was not well attended, Mr. Hornak said this reflected that people were not alarmed or upset by the  changes. He has heard no complaints from other churchgoers. Calling the changes “historically important,” Mr. Hornak said, “Personally, I hope that with all the elevated language, over time what we pray will be reflected in our belief. Our belief will mature with the language. It will take time, that’s the ingredient.”

Mr. Hornak went on to say that as children who are raised in the new Roman Missal settings get older, he hopes they will realize that the language is there for a reason, and it will deepen their faith.

Father Steven Murray, pastor of Holy Family in Watertown, said his church prepared for the changes by introducing some new Mass parts in November. For instance, he would chant “The Lord be with you,” and the congregation would respond in chant “And with Your Spirit.”

Occasional mistakes happened as they practiced the changes, but he said they weren’t taking themselves too seriously, and that they’d laugh. “As long as we are praying the Mass together it will be a beautiful experience,” he said.

Father  Murray said one response he received was from a 74-year-old woman who told him the changes were beautiful, and she hoped she would never be so old that she’d resist the changes. “Change is a good thing,” she told him.
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This article included contributions from NCC staff Writers Suzanne Pietropaoli, Shan Moore, Colleen Miner, Kristina Dean, Michelle Beagle and Pat Hendrick.

PHOTOS BY PAT HENDRICK
On the first Sunday of Advent, parishioners of St. Peter’s Parish in Plattsburgh, joined English speaking Catholics around the world in prayer with the revised Roman Missal. Msgr. Dennis Duprey said, "I think our people find it relatively comfortable.  It helps make us look at the Mass a little more carefully." At right, parishioners Ida Jacques and Diane Cudworth follow the Mass with pew cards.  Catholics from parishes across the diocese share their reactions to the changes in the accompanying article.

Photo by William Amoriel

More than  60 parishioners of St. Patrick’s Parish in Colton and St. Mary’s Parish in Potsdam attended a five-part program led by their pastor, Msgr. Robert Aucoin.  Using the program, A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, published by Ascension Press, the group explored the Biblical roots of the Liturgy and learned about the new Mass.